Raiders relocate 4,850 fans, tarping east-side 3rd deck

The new capacity of O.co Coliseum will be 53,250 (down from 64,200) with the east-side third deck being tarped off for Raiders home games, the Raiders announced.

Roughly 4,850 fans are being moved to the west side third deck, according to Raiders Chief Executive Amy Trask. All third-deck seat prices have been reduced to $250 for season-ticket holders.

That’s down $10 for fans moving from the east-side high-rise structure known as “Mt. Davis” to as much as down $360 for fans who have seats near the 50-yard line in the third deck (who were paying $610 per ticket). The Raiders are trying to make the relocation process fan-friendly for those moving and for those fans who already were on the west side.

The tarping-off is this year’s “tool” to ensure that the Raiders home games are broadcast locally on TV. Last year, Raiders used the league’s 85 percent rule and other promotions and were able to sell out seven of the eight regular-season home games (plus one of the two preseason games).

Trask: The goal is to sell out the stadium with season tickets and “that all the fans walk away from this process feeling terrific.”

The Raiders cannot reopen the “Mt. Davis” and other east-side third-deck seats once they have been designated to be tarped off, per a league rule. Even if Oakland made the playoffs next season.

The A’s have tarped off sections of the third deck since 2006 and now have a capacity crowd of roughly 34,000.

Meanwhile, Trask said, all efforts remain focused on getting a new stadium built at the current site. “We love our site,” Trask said.

The Raiders have had no recent discussions with the 49ers on sharing the Santa Clara Stadium that’s under construction, Trask said. But “we have not closed the door,” she added.

Trask was asked if there had been any talks on a new stadium with Los Angeles officials and she said “the current site is the focus.”

The Raiders have another meeting with Oakland City and County reps about a possible new stadium and “ Coliseum City” next week.

The team’s lease at O.co Coliseum expires at the end of next season. There is nothing new on that front, Trask said.